DAY 2: The bushfire at Deepwater is considered at 'rare event'.Mike Knott

News

'Significant impact': More residents urged to evacuate

by markzita and matthew.harris

26th Nov 2018 7:44 AM
| Updated:
5:32 PM

WHAT WE KNOW

The bushfire is now impacting the Deepwater, Baffle Creek, Rules Beach and Oyster Creek communities, and residents who have not evacuated, must make their way to Miriam Vale Community Centre at 41 Blomfield Street.

Gladstone Mayor Matt Burnett has advised residents there is still time to evacuate.

Round Hill residents are advised to be prepared to leave or follow their bushfire survival plan, as the fire heading towards Bousgas Drive and Anderson Way is likely to impact the area.

The NSW Rural Fire Service has brought in their 737 Large Air Tanker, Gaia, to help with the efforts. It is the first time such an aircraft is used in Queensland.

There is a community meeting at 6pm at the Agnes Water Community Centre, and Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk urges residents to attend.

5.30PM: Baffle Creek, Rules Beach and Oyster Creek residents have been urged by QFES to evacuate towards Miriam Vale using Tableland Rd and Fingerboard Rd, as a bushfire travels south.

As of 4.55pm the blaze was moving in a south, south-westerly direction from Capricornia Dr and Pacific Dr at Deepwater towards Baffle Creek, Rules Beach and Oyster Creek.

QFES said in its latest update the fire is impacting the Deepwater community now and is expected to start to impact Baffle Creek, Rules Beach and Oyster Creek within the next four hours.

The fire could have a significant impact on all communities.

Residents can go to an evacuate centre at Miriam Vale Community Centre, 41 Blomfield St.

2:30PM: THE Queensland Fire and Emergency Services have advised the fire affecting Deepwater will now spread to neighbouring communities.

Baffle Creek is now in the firing line, with Rules Beach and Oyster Creek expected to be affected in the next two hours.

The Premier just announced a disaster declaration has been signed for the affected areas.

It enables emergency services to forcibly move or stay, in order to protect people and property.

12.00PM: GLADSTONE mayor Matt Burnett has spoken to media at the Miriam Vale Community Centre in what will be the first of two bushfire related meetings in the region today.

Cr Burnett said the fire safety message remained the same.

"If you're in the Baffle Creek, Deepwater and Rules Beach area it is still time to evacuate," he said.

"The rules and messages haven't changed. We need you to leave that area immediately and if you can't go visit friends and family come to either the Miriam Vale Community Centre or Agnes Water Community Centre.

"We have the two places open if you can't stay with friends or family."

She confirms the winds are changing, and the direction of the fire will turn later on this afternoon.

"We want to make sure the communities of Agnes Water, Deepwater and Baffle Creek do get the information that they need," Ms Palaszczuk said.

She said two community meetings will be held:

One at 12pm at Miriam Vale, for the communities of Baffle Creek and Deepwater.

Tonight at 6pm at Agnes Water.

"I would urge as many residents as possible to please attend those meetings," she said.

The Premier has accepted help from Fire and Rescue NSW, and will be sending crews to help their Queensland counterparts.

"I also want to thank the New South Wales Premier Gladys Berejiklian for her offer of kind assistance," Ms Palaszczuk said.

8.20AM: QFES advises the threat level for Deepwater remains the same.

The bushfire is now impacting the Deepwater community, and residents who have not evacuated, must make their way to Miriam Vale Community Centre at 41 Blomfield Street.

8.00AM: RESIDENTS in Round Hill are advised to get ready to leave, as the bushfire heading towards Bousgas Drive and Anderson Way, could get worse quickly.

Residents who do choose to evacuate, are advised to travel north on Bousgas Drive and Anderson Way.

EARLIER: AS OF 6:25am, the Queensland Fire and Emergency Services have advised the conditions at Deepwater remain the same.

The bushfire is now impacting the Deepwater community, and residents who have not evacuated, must make their way to Miriam Vale Community Centre at 41 Blomfield Street.

Meanwhile for Round Hill residents, they are advised to be prepared to leave or follow their bushfire survival plan, as the fire heading towards Bousgas Drive and Anderson Way is likely to impact the area.

QFES advises the following:

Listen to your local radio station or visit the Rural Fire Service (RFS) website for regular updates.